HINDU GODS

February 28, 2008

MAHA SHIVARATRI

MAHA SHIVARATRI

Sivaratri is Hindu festival.The night of siva.This festival celebrated throughout the country in

India.Maha Shivarati . it is particularly popular in Uttar Pradesh. Maha Shivratri falls on the 14th day of the dark half of 'Margasirsa' (February-March). The name means "the night of Shiva". The ceremonies take place chiefly at night. This is a festival observed in honour of Lord Shiva and it is believed that on this day Lord Shiva was married to Parvati.On this festival people worship 'Shiva - the Destroyer'. This night marks the night when Lord Shiva danced the 'Tandav'. In Andhra Pradesh, pilgrims throng the Sri Kalahasteshwara Temple at Kalahasti and the Bharamarambha Malikarjunaswamy Temple at Srisailam.

On Shivaratri .People observe a strict fast on this day. Some devotees do not even take a drop of water and they keep vigil all night. The Shiva Lingam is worshipped throughout the night by washing it every three hours with milk, curd, honey, rose water, etc., whilst the chanting of the Mantra "Om Namah Shivaya" continues. Offerings of Bael leaves are made to the Lingam as Bael leaves are considered very sacred and it is said that Goddess Lakshmi resides in them.Hymns in praise of Lord Shiva, such as the "Shiva Mahimna Stotra" of Pushpadanta or Ravana's "Shiva Tandava Stotra" are sung with great fervour and devotion. People repeat the 'Panchakshara' Mantra, "Om Namah Shivaya". He, who utters the names of Shiva during Shivratri, with perfect devotion and concentration, is freed from all sins. He reaches the abode of Shiva and lives there happily. He is liberated from the wheel of births and deaths. Many pilgrims dock to the places where there are Shiva temples.

Every month in Krishna paksha chathurdhasi (fourteenth moonday) is called masa Shiva rathri. The one that comes in the month of "Masi" (mid February to mid March) is called Maha Shiva rathri. This is considered as the most important vrata by the devotees.

This festival is celebrated at night. This festival is also very different from all other Hindu festivals because no special foods are made on this day. People usually eat normal meals during the day, and at sunset, begin a fast along with prayers to Lord Shiva. This ritual ends at sunrise the next day, with a feast to break the fast. Foods in this meal include foods made in the other festivals.

Twelve Jyotirlingas

The Shiva Linga is the most common object of worship all over India. But twelve such stones are considered more important and are known as Jyotirlinga. They are situated in the following places:1-Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh2-Rameshwar in Tamil Nadu3-Bhimashankar in Daminyal near Pune in Maharashtra4 -Mahakaleshwar in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh5-Somanath in Saurashtra6-Nageshwar in Dwarka7-Mallika1 in Uttar Pradesh,8-Kedarnath in the Himalayas,9-Dhushmeshwar in Ellora near Aurangabad10-Trimbakeshwar near Nashik11-Vishvanath in Benares and12-Vaidyanath in Parli in Marathvada.

Mahashivaratri 2008

Mahashivaratri will fall on 6th March on Thursdsay in 2008

Mahashivaratri that day very important every hindus first worships thear family god kuladeivam ,

108 Names of Lord Siva

Name Meaning1-Aashutosh ---- One Who Fulfills Wishes Instantly2-Aja - Unborn3-Akshayaguna - God With Limitless Attributes4=Anagha = Without Any Fault5-Anantadrishti- - Of Infinite Vision6-Augadh - One Who Revels All The Time7-Avyayaprabhu - Imperishable Lord8=Bhairav - -Lord Of Terror9-Bhalanetra - One Who Has An Eye In The Forehead10-Bholenath -Kind Hearted Lord11-Bhooteshwara - Lord Of Ghosts And Evil Beings12-Bhudeva - Lord Of The Earth13-Bhutapala - Protector Of The Ghosts14-Chandrapal - Master Of The Moon15-Chandraprakash -One Who Has Moon As A Crest16-Dayalu -Compassionate17-Devadeva -Lord Of The Lords18-Dhanadeepa -Lord Of Wealth19-Dhyana -deepIcon Of Meditation And Concentration20-Dhyutidhara - Lord Of Brilliance21-Digambara -Ascetic Without Any Clothes22-Durjaneeya -Difficult To Be Known23-Durjaya -Unvanquished24-Gangadhara - Lord Of River Ganga25-Girijapati -Consort Of Girija26-Gunagrahin -Acceptor Of Gunas27-Gurudeva -Master Of All28-Hara -Remover Of Sins29-Jagadisha -Master Of The Universe30-Jaradhishamana - Redeemer From Afflictions31-Jatin - One Who Has Matted Hair32-Kailas - One Who Bestows Peace33-Kailashadhipati -Lord Of Mount Kailash34-Kailashnath - Master Of Mount Kailash35-Kamalakshana - Lotus-Eyed Lord36-Kantha - Ever-Radiant37-Kapalin One Wears A Necklace Of Skulls38-Khatvangin One Who Has The Missile Khatvangin In His Hand39-Kundalin One Who Wears Earrings40-Lalataksha One Who Has An Eye In The Forehead41-Lingadhyaksha Lord Of The Lingas42-Lingaraja Lord Of The Lingas43-Lokankara Creator Of The Three Worlds44-Lokapal One Who Takes Care Of The World45-Mahabuddhi Extremely Intelligent46-Mahadeva Greatest God47-Mahakala Lord Of All Times48-Mahamaya -Of Great Illusions49-Mahamrityunjaya -Great Victor Of Death50-Mahanidhi -Great Storehouse51-Mahashaktimaya - One Who Has Boundless Energies52-Mahayogi -Greatest Of All Gods53-Mahesha -Supreme Lord54-Mahesawara -Lord Of Gods55-Nagabhushana - One Who Has Serpents As Ornaments56-Nataraja - King Of The Art Of Dancing57-Nilakantha - Blue Necked Lord58-Nityasundara -Ever Beautiful59-Nrityapriya -Lover Of Dance60-Omkara -Creator Of OM61-Palanha - One Who Protects Everyone62-Parameshwara -First Among All Gods63-Paramjyoti -Greatest Splendour64-Pashupati -Lord Of All Living Beings65-Pinakin -One Who Has A Bow In His Hand66-Pranava -Originator Of The Syllable Of OM67-Priyabhakta -Favourite Of The Devotees68-Priyadarshana - Of Loving Vision69-Pushkara -One Who Gives Nourishment70-Pushpalochana - One Who Has Eyes Like Flowers71-Ravilochana - Having Sun As The Eye72-Rudra -The Terrible73-Rudraksha - One Who Has Eyes Like Rudra74-Sadashiva - Eternal God75-Sanatana -Eternal Lord76-Sarvacharya -Preceptor Of All77-Sarvashiva -Always Pure78-Sarvatapana - Scorcher Of All79-Sarvayoni - Source Of Everything80-Sarveshara - Lord Of All Gods81-Shambhu - One Who Bestows Prosperity82-Shankara -One Who Gives Happiness83-Shiva - Always Pure84-Shoolin - One Who Has A Trident85-Shrikantha - Of Glorious Neck86-Shrutiprakasha - Illuminator Of The Vedas87-Shuddhavigraha -One Who Has A Pure Body88-Skandaguru -Preceptor Of Skanda89-Someshwara -Lord Of All Gods90-Sukhada -Bestower Of Happiness91-Suprita -Well Pleased92-Suragana -Having Gods As Attendants93-Sureshwara -Lord Of All Gods94-Swayambhu - Self-Manifested95-Tejaswani -One Who Spreads Illumination96-Trilochana - Three-Eyed Lord97-Trilokpati - Master Of All The Three Worlds98-Tripurara - Enemy Of Tripura99-Trishoolin -One Who Has A Trident In His Hands100-Umapati -Consort Of Uma101-Vachaspati -Lord Of Speech102-Vajrahasta -One Who Has A Thunderbolt In His Hands103-Varada - Granter Of Boons104-Vedakrada - Originator Of The Vedas105-Veerabhadra -Supreme Lord Of The Nether World106-Vishalaksha -Wide-Eyed Lord107-Vishveshwar - Lord Of The Universe108-Vrishavahana -One Who Has Bull As His Vehicle

Meaning: I bow before that Sada Shiva Linga, which is lavishly smeared with variegated perfumes and scents, which elevates the power of thought and enkindles the light of discrimination, and before which the Siddhas and Suras and Asuras prostrate.

Meaning: I bow before that Sada Shiva Linga, the destroyer of Dakshas sacrifice, which is decorated with various ornaments, studded with different gems and rubies and which glows with the garland of the serpent Lord coiled around it.

Meaning: I bow before that Sada Shiva Linga, which is smeared with saffron and sandal paste, which is decorated with lotus garlands and which wipes out all accumulated sins.Devaganaarchitha Sevitha LingamBhaavair Bhakti Bhirevacha LingamDinakara Koti Prabhakara Lingam Tat Pranamaami Sadaa Shiva Lingam

Meaning: I bow before that Sada Shiva Linga which is worshipped by the multitude of Gods with genuine thoughts full of faith and devotion and whose splendor is like that of a million suns.

Meaning: I bow before that Sada Shiva Linga which is the Transcendent Being and the Supreme Self, worshipped by all Suras and their preceptor (Brhaspathi), with innumerable flowers from the celestial garden

Significance of Mrityunjaya MantraThis Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra is a life giving mantra. In these days, when life is very complex, accidents are an everyday affair. This mantra wards off death by accidents. Besides it has a great curative effect. Again, diseases pronounced incurable by doctors are cured by this mantra, when chanted with sincerity, faith and devotion. It is a weapon against all diseases. It is a mantra to conquer death. It is also a moksha mantra being Lord Shiva's mantra. It bestows health, long life (deergha ayush), peace (shanti), wealth (aishvaryam), prosperity (pushti), satisfaction (tusthti) and immortality (moksha).

"We worship the three-eyed one (Lord Siva) who is fragrant and nourishes all beings; may He liberate me from death for the sake of immortality

Daridrya dukha dahana shivastotramWhoever repeats this prayer on Lord Shiva composed by Rishi Vashishta attains that supreme abode of His and enjoys the eternal bliss. Whoever recites the nine stanzas of this powerful prayer will be relieved of all his sins, poverty and malady. Whoever recites this prayer will be bestowed with prosperity and happiness. dharithriya = poverty (or) misfortune; thahana = burn to ashes. The misfortunes of the devotee who repeats the prayer, will be burnt to ashes.Vishveshvaraya narakarnavataranaya karnamrutaya shashishekharadharanayaKarpura kantidhavalaya jatadharaya daridryaduhkha dahanaya namah shivaya 1